ConAgra profit climbs 17%, lifts view

SteveGelsi

NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- ConAgra Foods Inc.
CAG, -0.86%
said Thursday its second-quarter profit increased to $211.6 million, or 51 cents a share, from $180.2 million, or 43 cents a share, in the year-ago period. Net sales rose by 8.9% to $3.74 billion. Wall Street analysts expected the company to earn 55 cents a share on sales of $3.68 billion, according to a survey by FactSet. Looking ahead, ConAgra lifted its fiscal 2013 forecast to at least $2.06 a share, up from its earlier estimate of $2.03 to $2.06 a share. Analysts expect the Omaha, Neb., company to earn $2.07 for the year. ConAgra's view doesn't include any boost from its acquisition of Ralcorp Holdings
rah
which is on track to close by the end of March.

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